Walking beam head yoke



Dec. 1, 1931. w. c. TROUT WALKING BEAM HEAD YOKE Filed on; 22, 1928 ATTORNEY."

J INVENTOR.

Patented Dec. .1, 1931 WALTER-C.1TROUT,' OF L UFKTN, TEXAS wnrxrne BEAM HEAD. YoKn Application fi1ed0ctober-;22', i928. Serial no. 314,118.

My-invention relates-to an improvement in the head yoke which is attached to the walking beam used on standard rigs in well drilling and pumping equipment.

The walking beam is used in drilling and pumping equipment to transpose the rotary motion of the source of power into vertical reciprocating motion, the ends of the walking beam require attachments thereto in order 'that the various operations may be conveniently performed. In either drilling or pumping, the walking beam must'exert an upward pull upon the drill cable or the polish rod and there must accordingly be a suitable connection of the cable to the walking beam. It is to this connecting member that my improvement appertains. e 1

It is an object of my invention to provide a sturdy cable carrying member or head-upon the walking beam so that a heavy pull may be exerted upon the cable without mutilating it.

Another object is to construct my improved head yoke so that the ordinary T head bearing is retained upon the walking beam for use whenmy improvement is'not employed.

A further object is to form an arcuate guide member in combination with my head so that a vertical pull is at all times exerted upon the cable, and which may be foldedto an inoperative position. V

'I have also shown an improved walking beam to which the head is attached.

My improvement embodies other novel features which will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which it relates when the following description is considered in connection with the drawings wherein Fig. 1 shows a side elevation of a walking beam having my improvement applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view showing the construction ofthe walking beam.

head yoke showing the cable threaded therein. Fig. at is a section on the line 4+4 of-Fig. 3

Fig. 3 is'an enlarged side elevation of the head yoke and guide members in operative position upon the walkmg beam. 'Th'e walking beam 1s indicated generally by the numeral 1 and may comprise I beams or channel'membe'rs, as shown at 2 and 3 in 5"? Fig.5; These longitudinal members are con-' nected by web plates 4 and 5 disposed on'thc upperand lower sides thereof and extending substantially thruouttheir length. The walk ing' beam is braced to-give it the necessary ifi rigidity; by means of an upright 7 fixed'upon the -plate4 and having aplurality of tie bars 8 extending to the ends of the beam. this" construction a substantial truss structure is procured which-will withstand heavy strains. g

and is'not exceedingly heavy, or cumbersome;

Beneaththe upright 7-is the usual centerbear- V i ing 10 whereby the-walking'beam ispivotally" supportedon the Samson post, not shown.

- With reference to Fig. 1, 15 indicates the" 7 0" usual T headbearing provided upon the end of thevwalking beam and it'is'usual to suspend from. this bearinga temper screw to grip the drill cable, or "an adjuster block to retain the polish rod, but in either casea trunnion of usual construction rests-in the- T head. bearing 15. With a structure using the Thead" bearing atruly vertical 'reciprocation. of the cable or polish rod wasfimpossible as the walking beam. in pivoting.

traveled, in. the arc of a, circle and this im-"' parted some lateral movement to'the' T-bear-' ing. This is especially objectionable with the polish red as it flexed-therod when it passed thru, the stufiing boxat the tubing 8%) head; and resulted in wear and displacement of the packing. ingis desirable for someoperations and I have accordingly retained it for use when my head yoke is-not employed. 7 I 9h" "In order that my" improvement may be readily attached'to the walking beam I have formed the head 'yoke lfv preferably as a casting or stamping which-has abase 18, fins 1'9,

However, the T-head bearand caible' supporting groove 23. As shown in Fig. 4, the base has agplurality of openin'gs whereby it may be riveted orboltedlto the i'membe'rs 2.:and 3a'and .has outstanding ears 20 whichhave a cable roove 21 formed therein. -A, central opening-22 is provided 10? To support the to permit the use of a connection to the T- bearing, if desired. The head 17 has the cable groove, with side flanges 21 passing up the face, as shown in Fig. 5, but adjacent the top they curve slightly into the head to form a groove with vertical flanges 23, from which the cable 2 L may not readily be, dis placed. The face of the block ,l'Z is arcuate', being formed as an arc of the circumference of the circle having its center in the center iron 10. The ears 20 extend below-the base 18 and embrace the bearing 15, thus providing a continuous support for the cable 24;; The flanges 21 may be cut away slightly as at 25 to allow access to'the bearing 151 It will be seen that the head yoke-just described forms a support for the cable 24, which is simple, will retain the cable, and aiiords a quick removal of the cable if desired, and is so positioned with respect to the T-head bearing 15 that the thrust of the load carried by either one will be approximately in the same vertical plane, as best seen in Fig. 3.

In combination with the head yoke 17 just described, I have provided aguide structure 30 for the cable at so that on the upward swing of the walking beam the pointof contact of the cable will be maintained'in a vertical position. This guide structure is of arcuate form, the samevas'the head 17 and is shown as constructed of two angles 31 connected with brackets 32 which are in turn pivoted at 3 4:to the walking beam-1, thru the members 2 and 3 andthe'anchor plates 33, which are' fixed on the walkingbeam. guide structure, a brace arm 85 is pivoted to the under side of the walking beam as at 36 and detachably connected to the guide at 37. Thus by detaching the arm at 37 it may be folded or swung back under the walking beam so that it will not inter item with the operation, when theT-bearing 15 is to be used. The angles 31 form a continuation of the groove 21 and converge toward each other in order that the cable 2 L will approach the adjuster block or other gripping device in the proper direction.

The particular construction of my yoke and guide for attachment to the walking beam results in a very effective and convenient hanger for the cable, and the device is also simple and economical to construct.

t is common practice in drilling and pumping to loop a short piece of cable over the end of the walking beam and connect it to either the temper screw or-the adjusterblock and thus dispense with the use of the T bearing. lVith my improved head'yoke and guide, however, a truly vertical movement is assured due to the arcuate formation of the parts and the cable may be quickly detachechif desired.

Having described my invention, what I desire to secure by Letters Patent is z 1. A head yoke for walking-beams includ ing a portion adapted to seat on the walking beam, a grooved cable supporting portion thereon, and means formed in said yoke to receive a portion o'l a T head bearing carried by said beam.

2. A walking beam, a T head bearing hereon to receive a temper screw or adjuster block,a head yokeon said beam to receive a support cable, and means formed in said head yoke to receive said bearing so that the thrust on-either said hearing or yoke will be in the same vertical plane.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature this 15th day of October, A. D.

WALTER C; TROUT. 

